Rabies and Your Cat
Rabies is probably the most feared pet disease, tho more so due to human contraction.
So what is the "mad dog" disease? The fear in some ways is realistic...
it can kill...
any warm-blooded mammal (including humans).
And it's not a pleasant death.
Rabies in the United States has been significantly eradicated.
In fact, it's believed to be completely nonexistent in Hawaii.
Worldwide tho, many people and animals die from rabies.
Vaccination is pretty much the only way to stop rabies from spreading.
Rabies is primarily spread through the saliva of an infected animal who bites another animal or person.
Raccoon, skunk, bats, coyotes and foxes are the most common virus spreaders.
The virus does not live long outside of a warm-blooded body.
Surprisingly perhaps more cats are infected than dogs.
This is likely because: a) more cats than dogs roam around; b) every State requires dogs get vaccinated, not every State requires cats get vaccinated and fewer cats do get vaccinated (some estimates hold that only about 10% of cats get a rabies vaccination); c) there are more cats than dogs.
Being bitten by an infected animal does not guarantee the one bitten will become infected.
People, cats and dogs are mildly susceptible.
It's been speculated there's a 15% probability exposure will lead to disease.
It generally takes 2-6 weeks to shows signs of the disease; however, there is no cure or treatment - once you become symptomatic, it most cases you will die.
Three Stages to Rabies Disease Prodomal Stage - lasts 2-3 days and includes fever, slow eye reflexes, chewing at the bit site and behavioral changes such as apprehension, nervousness and anxiety.
Animals often will display atypical behavior - friendly animals will become aggressive and aggressive animals will become shy and docile.
Furious Stage - lasts 2-4 days and includes erratic behavior such as irritability, restlessness, aggression, attacking inanimate objects, hyper-responsive to visual and audible stimulus and roaming.
It may also include seizures and disorientation.
Paralytic Stage - lasts 2-4 days and includes developing paralysis often starting at the bite site and moving to the throat and face which results in drooling and foaming at the mouth.
Respiratory paralysis leads to coma and death.
Diagnosis and Treatment The only true diagnosis involves testing brain tissue...
which can't be done if the animal is alive.
Saliva and spinal fluid test can be done on live animals but are not completely reliable.
Time is of the essence since there is no treatment once an animal becomes symptomatic.
If your cat has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal and you don't know the status of that animal, you should assume the animal is infected.
If your cat has been vaccinated, clean the wound immediately, revaccinate and quarantine him for 90 days.
If your cat has not been vaccinated, quarantine for 6 months and vaccinate at the 5-month point.
Prevention Indoor cats are not at risk.
Outdoor cats should be vaccinated and preferably brought in at night.
The vaccine protocol is once as a kitten, once a year later and then it varies.
Studies show the vaccine is effective for 7 or more years but most municipalities require revaccination every 3 years or less.
So what is the "mad dog" disease? The fear in some ways is realistic...
it can kill...
any warm-blooded mammal (including humans).
And it's not a pleasant death.
Rabies in the United States has been significantly eradicated.
In fact, it's believed to be completely nonexistent in Hawaii.
Worldwide tho, many people and animals die from rabies.
Vaccination is pretty much the only way to stop rabies from spreading.
Rabies is primarily spread through the saliva of an infected animal who bites another animal or person.
Raccoon, skunk, bats, coyotes and foxes are the most common virus spreaders.
The virus does not live long outside of a warm-blooded body.
Surprisingly perhaps more cats are infected than dogs.
This is likely because: a) more cats than dogs roam around; b) every State requires dogs get vaccinated, not every State requires cats get vaccinated and fewer cats do get vaccinated (some estimates hold that only about 10% of cats get a rabies vaccination); c) there are more cats than dogs.
Being bitten by an infected animal does not guarantee the one bitten will become infected.
People, cats and dogs are mildly susceptible.
It's been speculated there's a 15% probability exposure will lead to disease.
It generally takes 2-6 weeks to shows signs of the disease; however, there is no cure or treatment - once you become symptomatic, it most cases you will die.
Three Stages to Rabies Disease Prodomal Stage - lasts 2-3 days and includes fever, slow eye reflexes, chewing at the bit site and behavioral changes such as apprehension, nervousness and anxiety.
Animals often will display atypical behavior - friendly animals will become aggressive and aggressive animals will become shy and docile.
Furious Stage - lasts 2-4 days and includes erratic behavior such as irritability, restlessness, aggression, attacking inanimate objects, hyper-responsive to visual and audible stimulus and roaming.
It may also include seizures and disorientation.
Paralytic Stage - lasts 2-4 days and includes developing paralysis often starting at the bite site and moving to the throat and face which results in drooling and foaming at the mouth.
Respiratory paralysis leads to coma and death.
Diagnosis and Treatment The only true diagnosis involves testing brain tissue...
which can't be done if the animal is alive.
Saliva and spinal fluid test can be done on live animals but are not completely reliable.
Time is of the essence since there is no treatment once an animal becomes symptomatic.
If your cat has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal and you don't know the status of that animal, you should assume the animal is infected.
If your cat has been vaccinated, clean the wound immediately, revaccinate and quarantine him for 90 days.
If your cat has not been vaccinated, quarantine for 6 months and vaccinate at the 5-month point.
Prevention Indoor cats are not at risk.
Outdoor cats should be vaccinated and preferably brought in at night.
The vaccine protocol is once as a kitten, once a year later and then it varies.
Studies show the vaccine is effective for 7 or more years but most municipalities require revaccination every 3 years or less.
Source...